---
title: "Aston Villa: Emiliano Martinez targeted by Manchester United"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/emi-martinez-man-utd-transfer-target/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "David Comerford"
section: "Aston Villa"
published: "2021-12-27T14:15:30Z"
modified: "2021-12-27T14:15:30Z"
---

# Aston Villa: Emiliano Martinez targeted by Manchester United

**Manchester United may make a move for Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez if David de Gea leaves the club, according to [The Daily Star](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/man-utd-transfer-news-martinez-25784728)‘s Harry Pratt.**

### The lowdown

The Argentine joined Villa from Arsenal ahead of the 2020/21 season for a fee of [£20m](https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1336233/Arsenal-transfer-news-Emiliano-Martinez-Aston-Villa-Thomas-Partey-Houssem-Aouar), committing to the club until June 2024.

He pockets [£47,000 per week](https://www.spotrac.com/epl/aston-villa-fc/payroll/) in the Midlands, whereas De Gea takes home a whopping [£375,000 per week](https://www.spotrac.com/epl/manchester-united-fc/payroll/) at Old Trafford. However, the Spaniard is [out of contract](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/david-de-gea/profil/spieler/59377) at the end of the 2022/23 season, leading United to draw up contingency plans.

### The latest

Pratt wrote in [The Daily Star](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/man-utd-transfer-news-martinez-25784728) that Martinez’s name features on a list of options who could be pursued if De Gea leaves before the end of his contract. United would consider him a ‘highly suitable’ replacement for the Spaniard, who has been named in the [PFA Team of the Year five times](https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/david-de-gea-named-in-pfa-team-of-the-year).

The Red Devils would apparently shell out £50m to bring the 29-year-old Villa ‘keeper to Old Trafford and they are also admirers of Leeds United’s Illan Meslier, who is eight years younger.

### The verdict

Losing Martinez would be a big blow to Villa. Since he joined the club, he has earned some illustrious individual honours, including the club’s 2020/21 [Player of the Season](https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2021/may/Martinez-voted-Supporters-Player-of-the-Season-/) award and, perhaps most impressively, a [Yashin Trophy](https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2021/october/08/mart-nez-nominated-for-2021-yachine-trophy/) nomination.

Even in defeat against Chelsea on Sunday, the Argentine demonstrated his class with a [‘superb’](https://twitter.com/Buntingfootball/status/1475184161589960705) save to deny Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Still, if they were to lose him, they would at least have £50m+ at their disposal to pick out a top-notch replacement.

**In other news, [many Villa fans slammed this player’s performance against Chelsea](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-news/villa-fans-slam-ings-chelsea/)**